A photo posted by Rolling Stone (@rollingstone) on 2016-04-30 22:19:41

Today was the day that #MichaelJackson’s “Beat It” hit Number One for the first of three weeks. “I wanted to write the type of rock song that I would go out and buy,” said Jackson, “but also something totally different from the rock music I was hearing on Top 40 radio.” The result was a throbbing dance single with a fingers-flying guitar solo provided by #EddieVanHalen. “I’m not gonna sit here and tell you what to play,” Jones instructed Van Halen. “The reason you’re here is because of what you do play.” #VanHalen Photograph by Chris Walter